norite

[nawr-ahyt]

noun

1. a granular igneous rock consisting of a mix of light and dark minerals, the former being calcic plagioclase feldspars, and the latter orthorhombic pyroxenes.

norite

/ ˈnɔːraɪt /

noun

1. a variety of gabbro composed mainly of hypersthene and labradorite feldspar

norite

1. See gabbro

2. A coarse-grained igneous rock, very similar to gabbro but containing orthopyroxene instead of clinopyroxene.

Other Word Forms

• noritic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of norite¹

From the Norwegian word norit, dating back to 1875–80. See Norway, -ite ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of norite¹

C19: from Norwegian norit, from _Norge Norway + -it _-ite ¹

Example Sentences

The researchers used a method called atom probe tomography to confirm the age of the oldest-known solids that formed after the giant impact, the zircon crystals inside the fragment of a type of rock called norite collected by Schmitt.

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“So we gave them one”: a two-centimeter-wide square of an igneous rock called norite that is one of 12 such targets on the rover.

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Mī′norite, a Franciscan friar.—adj. belonging to the Franciscans.—n.

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In Canada great portions of the eastern portion of the Dominion are formed of gabbros, norite, anorthosite and allied rock types.

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Hornblende-gabbros are distinctly rare, except when the hornblende has been developed from pyroxene by pressure and shearing, but many rocks may be described as hornblende- or biotite-bearing gabbro and norite, when they contain these ingredients in addition to the normal minerals plagioclase, augite and hypersthene.

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